I Was a U.S. Diplomat. Customs and Border Protection Only Cared That I Was Black

[Tis_Bearself]

I think she rejected her coworkers offered to ride with her because that would be her acknowledging that to get through the border she needed a white person with her.

Yes, and I said she’s not obligated to accept their offer. However, from a practical standpoint,

• it would have possibly helped her get on her way quicker
• it would have provided some useful evidence that when Joe Whiteperson is in the car, she got through the checkpoint faster - or maybe even that when Joe Whiteperson was in the car, nothing changed, which could show that it wasn’t as racial as she claimed
• Joe Whiteperson was genuinely trying to help her in the way he thought he could. She doesn’t seem to acknowledge that, even if she doesn’t want the help.

If you want people to change then it helps to encourage their efforts, or else show them how they could help better or help differently. Not just throw them all in the “you’re part of the problem” bin.

 

[Victoria33]

Customs, Border Patrol is fighting a war on the border, checking cars, their fuel tanks, false floor boards for drugs, the Cartels are incredibly ruthless criminal organizations but CBP is going to be concerned with this woman? Is their collusion with the US Consulate in Juarez between these federal employees? There’s also a lot in the article that maybe she just set off the computer at the border. She also seems to have requested her higherups to talk to the Customs office about this.

 

[vz71]

I think there’s an implicit acknowledgment that we’re discussing it on the assumption she’s not lying.

Correct.
But I also know we do not have all the information.

I understand that she may be telling the truth as far as she knows, but what she is saying may not, in fact, be true.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I think there’s an implicit acknowledgment that we’re discussing it on the assumption she’s not lying. Obviously, if it turns out she’s making all this up, that’s a horse of a different color.

I don’t think reasonable people presume so much that it’s “all made up” as they might presume there’s another perspective or dimension to the story that she either isn’t aware of or doesn’t think is important or isn’t acknowledging.

 

[Theo520]

It’s impossible to come to broad conclusions from anecdotal evidence.

In her case, let’s all agree she was pulled over on a frequent basis and it was intentional since they are fairly high tech in reading license plates and pre-flagging suspects. That she was pre-flagged is the only explanation I can think of for getting searched 2 of every 3 crossings. Even she acknowledges she was pulled over far more frequently than other people of color at the embassy using the same “fast” lanes.

While I’m very curious to know the real facts on why customs targeted her, I don’t see it as an example of systemic racism.

I think publishing her story was a smart move to respond to the situation.

 

[RolandThompsonGunner]

Customs, Border Patrol is fighting a war on the border, checking cars, their fuel tanks, false floor boards for drugs, the Cartels are incredibly ruthless criminal organizations but CBP is going to be concerned with this woman?

Sure. If you think government officials don’t have time for petty nonsense just like anyone else, you clearly haven’t met many. They’re just people. They’re just as capable of being spiteful (or racist) as anyone else.

 

[Victoria33]

Sure. If you think government officials don’t have time for petty nonsense just like anyone else, you clearly haven’t met many. They’re just people. They’re just as capable of being spiteful (or racist) as anyone else.

I have clearly met many. But thanks for your opinion.

Yes, they are capable of anything like all human beings. That doesn’t mean that they are not very busy doing other things to be worried about some new diplomatic worker.

 

[Victoria33]

It’s impossible to come to broad conclusions from anecdotal evidence.

In her case, let’s all agree she was pulled over on a frequent basis and it was intentional since they are fairly high tech in reading license plates and pre-flagging suspects. That she was pre-flagged is the only explanation I can think of for getting searched 2 of every 3 crossings. Even she acknowledges she was pulled over far more frequently than other people of color at the embassy using the same “fast” lanes.

While I’m very curious to know the real facts on why customs targeted her, I don’t see it as an example of systemic racism.

I think publishing her story was a smart move to respond to the situation.

Yes, she had some SENTRI card that would expedite her going across the border.

Customs officials messing with someone with a SENTRI card that would signify ties to the government I assume?

One could make the case that government workers would not want to get into some kerfuffle over this.

 

[PaulinVA]

One could make the case that government workers would not want to get into some kerfuffle over this.

Or, one could argue that because of the ambiguity of the whole thing, they could get away with it.

 

[Victoria33]

Or, one could argue that because of the ambiguity of the whole thing, they could get away with it.

Or one could argue that there is a lot of CCTV, cameras at these places, so to hassle someone with a SENTRI card which leaves a computer trail would not seem wise. I’m sure, this would all need to be looked at.

I think she said that at some point, someone told her something like “the car is probably stolen”, something like that from the reading. If someone actually told her that, yes, it should be reported. She told her higherups who were suppose to talk to CBP. Maybe these agencies do not work as closely together. Maybe there is bureaucratic red tape but there shouldn’t be. I’d think the 2 organizations are cooperative.

But a lot of this if not all should be on video, if it is kept for some time.

 

[RolandThompsonGunner]

Yes, they are capable of anything like all human beings. That doesn’t mean that they are not very busy doing other things to be worried about some new diplomatic worker.

Of course they have other things they’re supposed to be doing. What I’m saying is that people don’t always do what they’re supposed to, that’s all.

 

[PaulinVA]

But a lot of this if not all should be on video, if it is kept for some time.

I think there is a lot of discretion at the border as to who to pull over and give special attention to.

I don’t think CBP cared at all about what the State Department did or didn’t do in response to this. I really don’t think they even cared she worked for State - they repeatedly told her she was lying.

 

[Feanor2]

Racism is very real in the US.

I have lived in VA, NC, MA, and NY and I can’t count the number of times other white people have just assumed I was racist like them.

I am sure other white posters would echo this.

 

[Theo520]

Sure. If you think government officials don’t have time for petty nonsense just like anyone else, you clearly haven’t met many. They’re just people. They’re just as capable of being spiteful (or racist) as anyone else.

I don’t think it was racist but I believe they had given her some sort of a “Karen” flag in the system and they were being spiteful.

 

[RolandThompsonGunner]

I am sure other white posters would echo this.

I can honestly say that’s pretty rare for me. Not never, but pretty rare.

 

[Victoria33]

Racism is very real in the US.

I have lived in VA, NC, MA, and NY and I can’t count the number of times other white people have just assumed I was racist like them.

I am sure other white posters would echo this.

Americans Say Blacks More Racist Than Whites, Hispanics, Asians

Americans believe blacks are more racist than whites, Hispanics and Asians in this country.

www.rasmussenreports.com

I don’t think we should single out any group for being racist when it affects everyone in my opinion.

 

[Victoria33]

I think there is a lot of discretion at the border as to who to pull over and give special attention to.

I don’t think CBP cared at all about what the State Department did or didn’t do in response to this. I really don’t think they even cared she worked for State - they repeatedly told her she was lying.

And if they did that, it should be on video. I hope they keep the video footage. They were already cleared of wrongdoing in an investigation.

 

[Feanor2]

I don’t think we should single out any group for being racist when it affects everyone in my opinion.

My post is related to my experience as a white person having other white people say racist things to me assuming I hold the same beliefs.

I am not black or hispanic so I can’t give any thoughts on that.

 

[Feanor2]

Feanor2:

I am sure other white posters would echo this.

I can honestly say that’s pretty rare for me. Not never, but pretty rare.

It certainly doesn’t happen every day to me either but happens more than once or twice a year.

The occurrence was higher in VA and NC than in NY and MA.

 

[Victoria33]

I think racism is bad, it’s also very bad to accuse others of it if it is not so.

Racism has different manifestations, I’ll leave it at that.